eclectic

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Drawing on a wide range of different styles, sources, or tastes and combining them into one whole.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after a verb: an eclectic mix; her taste is eclectic.

   Patterns

   • an eclectic mix of something
   • eclectic taste in something

   The cafe has an eclectic collection of mismatched chairs and vintage posters.

   Her eclectic taste in music runs from jazz to heavy metal.

   The course takes an eclectic approach, borrowing methods from several schools of thought.

2. 2nouncountableformalrare

   A person whose views or tastes are drawn from many different sources rather than a single system.

   Grammar: Uncommon as a noun: he is an eclectic, not a purist.

   As an eclectic, he refused to follow any one school of design.

Word forms

Common combinations

eclectic mix

The festival offers an eclectic mix of food stalls.

eclectic taste

He has eclectic taste in books.

eclectic collection

The museum holds an eclectic collection of tools.

eclectic approach

The teacher uses an eclectic approach to grammar.

Synonyms and how they differ

diverse

Diverse only says things differ; eclectic suggests someone chose and combined them deliberately.

varied

Varied is plainer and can describe any range, while eclectic hints at style or taste.

miscellaneous

Miscellaneous implies a random assortment, whereas eclectic usually sounds intentional and positive.

Opposites

Word family

eclectically adverb

in a way that mixes many sources

eclecticism noun

the practice of mixing styles or ideas

Commonly confused: eclectic or electric?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “eclectic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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